Monday, March 28, 2016

If you, Like Trump, Are Concerned About Trade with China and Mexico there is Something You Can Do

If you, like Donald Trump are concerned about trade with China and Mexico and the trade deficit there is something you can do. You can buy VIGI. VIGI is an exchange traded stock fund with very low fees that invests in foreign Dividend Achiever stocks. The expense ratio is only one quarter of one percent so Wall Street is not getting much of a cut.

(To qualify as a Dividend Achiever, a company must have increased its
dividend payout each year for the last 10 or more consecutive years and
meet certain liquidity requirements.)

Why will this work?

When Foreigners buy more assets in the USA than USA citizens buy
assets in foreign countries they are buying less goods and services and that is what produces a trade deficit. Essentially they
sell goods and services to us and use some of the many that they make to
buy assets.

So the deficit is a result of foreigners buying more US assets (stocks, bonds, T-bills, etc.) than US citizens buy foreign assets. The balance of payments is always nearly equal so if we buy more assets they will have to buy more goods and services. (There is some cash held outside the USA but it is a small amount and
most of it is needed long term and it is not significant and is eroded
by inflation.)

Interestingly, though foreigners own more assets in the USA (stocks, bonds, T-bills etc.) than US citizens own in foreign countries, US citizens receive more returns (dividends and interest) than foreigner receive on US assets. This shows that foreigners have been bidding up the price of US assets.

If you think that you cannot afford to buy even a little bit of stock ready this.